Run: 2026-03-18-01KM0ASKHK2DPHZX11Y5RCAKW0

Marie: “Excusez-moi… monsieur. Je… je cherche les mots.” Hunter: “I’m Detective Hunter. You’re in town on the study program, right? I need to ask about what happened last night at the edge of town.” Marie: “Je… oui. Je suis en programme d’échange.” *(She hovers over her camera, fingers tight on the strap.)* “Mais… je ne sais pas. Je n’ai pas vraiment… vu.” Hunter: “You didn’t see anything? No one? The search was all over the orchards.” Marie: “Les vergers… oui, je sais où c’est.” *(Her voice lowers, troubled.)* “Mais… ce n’est pas seulement ‘voir’. J’ai pris des photos. Des paysages… et puis…” Hunter: “And then what?” Marie: “Et puis j’ai senti… quelque chose, comme… du mauvais.” *(She swallows.)* “Je ne comprends pas pourquoi quelqu’un aurait—” Hunter: “Would what? Speak up.” Marie: “Quelqu’un aurait emmené… quelqu’un. Peut-être.” Hunter: “Maybe. That’s not helpful.” *(He looks at her camera, then back at her face.)* “What time were you out there?” Marie: “Vers quatre heures… non—attendez—.” *(She flips the camera open like it can translate her thoughts.)* “Je pense… vers quatre heures et demie.” Hunter: “Who was with you?” Marie: “Personne… sauf—” *(She freezes, as if remembering.)* “Sauf une personne, là-bas. Je ne… je ne l’ai pas bien vue.” Hunter: “Describe them.” Marie: “Une silhouette… comme quelqu’un qui voulait ne pas être remarqué.” *(She looks down at her lens.)* “Et… il y avait une odeur, comme fumée, mais pas du tout… normale.” Hunter: “Smoke? From a fire?” Marie: “Je ne sais pas. Je ne veux pas inventer.” *(Her eyes shine; she seems shaken.)* “Je suis venue pour apprendre. Pour photographier.” Hunter: “Yeah. Well, learning’s great. I’m trying to keep people from disappearing.” Marie: “Je—je suis désolée.” *(She shakes her head slowly.)* “Je ne savais pas que… ça arrivait ici.” Hunter: “You’ve been here a few weeks. Alborn keeps to itself. But this—” *(He stops himself, then glances toward the door.)* “Do you have any photos from around that time? Anything unusual?” Marie: “Oui… mais je ne sais pas si je dois montrer.” Hunter: “Show me.” Marie: “Non… pas comme ça.” *(She pulls the camera closer.)* “Je veux… je veux comprendre d’abord. Pourquoi je pense—” Hunter: “Why you think what?” Marie: “Pourquoi je pense que… quelqu’un m’a vue.” *(Her voice cracks.)* “Et maintenant je ne peux plus respirer comme avant.” Hunter: “Hold on.” *(He frowns, leaning in slightly.)* “You said you think someone saw you. Are you saying you were followed?” Marie: “Je pense que… oui.” *(She nods once, quick and frightened.)* “Mais je ne suis pas sûre.” Hunter: “Okay.” *(He takes a breath, then points at the menu board as if it will help.)* “Do you speak English at all?” Marie: “Un peu… euh… non.” *(She shakes her head.)* “Pas assez.” Hunter: “Of course.” *(Dry, exasperated. He rubs a hand over his jaw.)* “I can’t ask you questions if you can’t understand me.” Marie: “Je suis désolée.” *(She gestures helplessly, then stops, clutching her camera like an anchor.)* “Je peux… essayer.” Hunter: “Try.” Marie: “Je… je peux montrer—” *(She breathes in, gathers courage.)* “Photo. Vers quatre heures.” Hunter: “Phot—okay, sure.” *(He gestures for her camera.)* “Let me see the screen. Just show me.” Marie: “D’accord.” *(She turns the camera toward him, tapping through images with careful, trembling precision.)* “Voilà. Ici.” Hunter: “That’s… a field.” Marie: “Oui. Mais regardez… à l’arrière.” *(Her finger points, but she can’t stop shaking.)* “Là-bas. Il y avait—” Hunter: “A shape?” Marie: “Oui.” *(She nods.)* “Quelqu’un. Peut-être.” Hunter: “Maybe. Great.” *(He looks at the photo, then at her again, baffled despite himself.)* “This is going to require an interpreter.” Marie: “Je comprends.” *(She exhales, relieved and terrified at once.)* “Je ne veux pas compliquer… mais je ne peux pas rester seule avec ça.” Hunter: “Then don’t.” *(He stands straighter, business returning to his face.)* “I’m going to take down what you can tell me, and we’ll cross-check it with what we already found.” Marie: “Merci.” *(Her voice is softer now, gratitude cutting through the fear.)* “Merci… vraiment.” Hunter: “And for the record, don’t go back out there alone. Do you understand?” Marie: “Oui.” *(She nods again, firm this time.)* “Je ne… je ne le ferai pas.” Hunter: “Good.” *(His phone buzzes—his whole posture changes.)* “Damn it.” Marie: “Quoi?” Hunter: “Call.” *(He glances at the screen, already moving.)* “I have to go.” Marie: “Attendez—” *(She lifts a hand, then lowers it, helpless with language.)* “Hunter… s’il vous plaît… j’ai peur.” Hunter: “I’ll be back.” *(He looks like he wants to promise more, but can’t.)* “Stay here. Don’t disappear on me.” Marie: “Je… d’accord.” *(She manages a small, shaky smile.)* “Je vais rester. Promis.” Hunter: “Alright.” *(He starts to leave, then pauses at the door.)* “One more thing—if you can find someone who speaks English, get them to me. Copy that?” Marie: “Oui.” *(She grips her camera strap, watching him go.)* “Je vais… demander.” Hunter: “Good.” *(He exits.)*